Refrigerator and Support Device for Refrigerator

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator includes a main body having one or more storage spaces; one or more doors configured to open and close at least one of the one or more storage spaces; a plurality of shelves in the one or more storage spaces; one or more wine shelves in the one or more storage spaces, configured to hold and/or store wine or a beverage; a cool air supply device configured to supply cool air and/or maintain at least one of the one or more storage spaces at a predetermined temperature; and a duct including a first cool air discharge port fixed to a rear face of the one or more storage spaces to receive the cool air from the cool air supply device and discharge the cool air. At least one of the one or more wine shelves includes a body having a size (e.g., a width) smaller than a width of at least one of the plurality of shelves, a space configured to hold and/or store the wine or the beverage, a flow path through which the cool air flows, a cool air inlet connected to the first cool air discharge port and configured to introduce the cool air into the flow path, and a second cool air discharge port configured to discharge the cool air from the flow path to the one or more storage spaces.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to a refrigerator and a shell for therefrigerator.

BACKGROUND

A refrigerator may be a device intended for storing food at a lowtemperature, and may be configured to freeze or refrigerate the food,depending on the type of food to be stored and/or the duration ofstorage. To this end, the refrigerator may include a cool air supplydevice with a cooling cycle implemented. The cool air supply device isconfigured such that a refrigerant undergoes the process ofcompression-condensation-expansion-evaporation to generate cool air asthe refrigerant circulates in the cooling cycle. The cool air from anevaporator of the cool air supply device is supplied to the storagespace of the refrigerator, and the cool air in the storage space of therefrigerator is circulated by convection so that the food in therefrigerator may be stored under the required temperature conditions.Generally, a main body of the refrigerator has a rectangularparallelepiped or cuboid shape, in which a front face is open. The innerpart of the main body includes a refrigerating chamber and a freezingchamber. The front face of the main body is provided with arefrigerating chamber door and a freezing chamber door for selectivelyshielding the opening(s).

Such refrigerators may be classified into a Top-Mount type, in which thefreezing chamber is above the refrigerating chamber, a Bottom-Freezertype, in which the freezing chamber is below the refrigerating chamber,and a Side-By-Side type, in which the freezing chamber and therefrigerating chamber are side-by-side. Meanwhile, in order to retrievethe food stored in the refrigerator, the user has to open therefrigerating chamber door or the freezing chamber door, wherebyrelatively warm air from outside the refrigerator may flow into therefrigerating chamber or the freezing chamber. The outside air may causethe temperature in the refrigerator to rise, and the cool air supplydevice may need to be activated to maintain a proper temperature.

The cool air from such a cool air supply device may be dischargedthrough a multi-duct on the rear wall of the refrigerator and maycirculate in the refrigerating chamber. However, in the conventionalmulti-duct, the cool air is discharged at a predetermined position,irrespective of the location of the food in the refrigerating chamber.Thus, there is a problem in that the cool air may not be efficientlysupplied and/or circulated within the refrigerating chamber.

Further, since only cool air is supplied to the cool air discharge portof the multi-duct, there is a disadvantage in that it takes a long timeto supply and circulate the cool air throughout the entire refrigeratingchamber, and/or to cool the refrigerating chamber to a presettemperature (e.g., 4° C.).

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the disclosure advantageously solve the above problemsand provide a refrigerator and a shelf for the refrigerator in which thetime for supplying the cool air to and/or circulating the cool airthroughout the entire interior of the refrigerator may be shortened.

Further, embodiments of the disclosure provide a refrigerator and ashelf for the refrigerator in which the cool air is efficiently suppliedto and/or circulated throughout the entire interior of the refrigerator.

Further, embodiments of the disclosure provide a refrigerator and ashelf for the refrigerator which may increase space utilization in therefrigerator.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provideda refrigerator comprising a main body having one or more storage spaces;one or more doors, each configured to open and close at least one of theone or more storage spaces; a plurality of shelves in the one or morestorage spaces; one or more wine shelves in the one or more storagespaces, configured to hold and/or store wine or a beverage; a cool airsupply device configured to supply cool air and/or maintain at least oneof the one or more storage spaces at a predetermined temperature; and aduct (e.g., a multi-duct) including a first cool air discharge portfixed to (e.g., a rear face of) the storage space to receive the coolair from the cool air supply device and discharge the cool air (e.g.,directly or indirectly into the storage space), wherein at least one ofthe one or more wine shelves includes a body having a width smaller thana width of the plurality of shelves (e.g., smaller than a correspondingwidth of the interior of the refrigerating space), a space configured tohold and/or store the wine or the beverage, a flow path through whichthe cool air flows (e.g., inside the wine shelf), a cool air inlet(e.g., on one side of the wine shelf body) connected to the first coolair discharge port and configured to introduce the cool air into theflow path, and a second cool air discharge port (e.g., on another sideof the wine shelf body) configured to discharge the cool air from theflow path to the one or more storage spaces.

The first cool air discharge port may be on a front face of the duct.The first cool air discharge port may be proximate or adjacent to anedge and/or a first side face of the duct.

Each of the wine shelves may independently be between first and secondones of the plurality of shelves, or above an uppermost one of theplurality of shelves, or below a lowermost one of the plurality ofshelves.

A second side face of the body may include a plurality of third cool airdischarge ports, and another (e.g., a third) side face of the body maybe coupled with the inside face of the storage space.

Each of the plurality of shelves may have a dimension or size (e.g., awidth) corresponding to an inner width of at least one of the one ormore storage spaces, and the one or more wine shelves may have adimension or size (e.g., a width) smaller than the inside width of thestorage space.

The first cool air discharge port may extend towards the front (e.g., ofthe refrigerator, or into the corresponding storage space) and may fitinto the cool air inlet.

The duct may have a length oriented in the vertical direction, and theplurality of first cool air discharge ports may be along the duct at apredetermined interval in the vertical direction.

The body may have a predetermined thickness and a convex shape (e.g., alowermost surface of the body is convex).

The wine shelf may be detachably coupled (e.g., to a wall, a rearsurface, a shelf, etc.) in the storage space.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a shelf (or a set of shelves) for a refrigerator (e.g., for usein a storage space of the refrigerator) and configured to be coupled toa duct (e.g., configured to supply cool air from a cool air supplydevice in the refrigerator), comprising a plurality of shelves (e.g.,storage shelves) having a size corresponding to a width of the storagespace; and one or more wine shelves configured to be communicativelycoupled to the duct and positioned between adjacent ones of theplurality of the (storage) shelves, above an uppermost one of theplurality of (storage) shelves, or below a lowermost one of theplurality of (storage) shelves, wherein the wine shelf includes a flowpath configured to discharge the cool air from the duct to the storagespace.

The wine shelf may include a body configured to hold and/or store thewine or the beverage, having a convex shape; a cool air inlet on a rearface of the body, configured to supply the cool air into the body; and acool air discharge port on a first side face of the body, configured todischarge the cool air from the body.

The body may have an inner part containing the flow path of the coolair.

The body may have another (e.g., a second) side face configured to becoupled with an inside face of the storage space, and a plurality ofcool air discharge ports on the first side face of the body.

The cool air discharge port(s) may be configured to supply the cool airto food on one of the plurality of (storage) shelves (e.g., below thewine shelf).

The cool air inlet may have dimensions configured to fit with adischarge port of the duct.

In a refrigerator and a refrigerator shelf according to embodiments ofthe disclosure, there is an advantage in that a rate of the cool airsupplied to the entire interior of the refrigerator may be improved.

Further, there is an effect in that the cool air is efficiently suppliedto the entire interior of the refrigerator.

Further, there is an effect in that space utilization in therefrigerator may be increased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing a general configuration of a refrigerator;

FIG. 2 is a view showing a configuration of a refrigerator according toan embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the wine shelves, therear wall or surface, and the duct in the refrigerator of FIGS. 2-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the disclosure will be described indetail with reference to the drawings.

Further, in the following description of the disclosure, detaileddescriptions of known functions and configurations incorporated hereinwill be omitted when such descriptions may make the subject matter ofthe disclosure unclear.

Further, in the following description, it may be understood that the“front” or a “front direction” may be the direction toward the frontface or side of the refrigerator (e.g., towards the outer surface of thedoor[s]), the “rear” or a “rear direction” may be the direction toward arear face or side of the refrigerator (e.g., towards the side or surfaceof the refrigerator opposite from the outer surface of the door[s]), anda “left direction” and a “right direction” may be one side direction andthe other side direction.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a generalconstruction of a refrigerator. Specifically, a top-mount refrigeratoris shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 is forstoring food in a low-temperature state, and may include a main body 10having storage spaces 11 and 12 for one or more foods and at least onedoor 13 and 14 for opening and closing at least a part of the storagespaces 11 and 12. As an example, the main body 10 may have arefrigerating chamber 11 and a freezing chamber 12 as storage spaces,and a front face of the main body 10 may have a refrigerating chamberdoor 13 hingedly attached thereto or mounted thereon, configured toselectively close or shield the refrigerating chamber 11, and a freezingchamber door 14 configured to selectively close or shield the freezingchamber 12.

The refrigerator 1 has a structure in which the freezing chamber 12 isabove the refrigerating chamber 11, and the cool air generated in theevaporator 17 in the rear of the main body 10 may be discharged into thefreezing chamber 12 from the rear face of the freezing chamber 12.

The refrigerator 1 may include a cool air supply device to supply coolair through a cooling or refrigeration cycle to maintain the storagespace at a predetermined temperature, and the cool air supply device mayinclude a compressor, an expansion valve, an evaporator, a condenser,and the like.

The compressor and the expansion valve of the cool air supply device maybe in the machine room on one side of the refrigerator 1. A refrigerantmay be provided to the evaporator located behind the freezing chamber 12and may generate the cool air by absorbing heat from air passing overthe evaporator to evaporate the refrigerant.

The generated cool air may be discharged to the inner space of thefreezing chamber 12 by a fan (see, e.g., the circle on the rear wall ofthe freezing chamber 12 and the fan in FIG. 3 behind a similar oridentical location on the rear wall of the freezing chamber 212). Inthis case, a part of the cool air discharged by the fan may be guided tothe refrigerating chamber 11 by a guide plate (not shown). The cool airguided by the guide plate may be supplied to the refrigerating chamber12 through a cool air supply passage in a barrier defining therefrigerating chamber 11 and the freezing chamber 12 (e.g., at aninterface between the refrigerating chamber 11 and the freezing chamber12).

A plurality of shelves 15, a storage box or drawer, and the like forstoring and keeping the food may be in the refrigerating chamber 11 andoptionally, in the freezing chamber 12. The rear face of the doors 13and 14 may include a plurality of shelves, baskets or pockets forstoring food. A user may efficiently store the food in the storage spaceinside the refrigerator using the food storage mechanisms in the storagespace such as the shelves 15, the storage box or drawer, the baskets orpockets, and the like.

Further, a wine shelf 15 a for storing wine, a beverage, water and thelike may be on one side of the shelf 15. The wine shelf 15 a may bedetachable from the shelf 15 and may have a curved or convex shape sothat the wine, the beverage and the like may be stored easily.

The refrigerating chamber 11 may include a duct (e.g., a multi-duct, notshown) configured to discharge the cool air at a plurality of points.The multi-duct may be fixed to the rear face of the refrigeratingchamber 11 to discharge the cool air through the cool air supply passageto the inside of the refrigerating chamber 11. To this end, a cool airinlet (not shown) may be above the multi-duct to be supplied with thecool air. Further, the multi-duct may have a length in the verticaldirection and may discharge the cool air at the plurality of pointsalong the vertical direction (e.g., between the storage drawer and theinterface with the freezing chamber 12). Accordingly, the cool air fromthe cool air supply device may be supplied to the refrigerating chamber11 through the duct.

The duct may include a fan assembly (not shown in FIG. 1) by which thetemperature inside the refrigerating chamber 11 may be uniformlymaintained by circulating the cool air inside the refrigerating chamber11. The temperature inside the refrigerating chamber 11 may quicklyachieve an appropriate (e.g., target) temperature using the cool airsupplied to the inner part of the refrigerating chamber 11 anddistributed by the fan.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a configuration of a refrigerator according toan embodiment of the disclosure, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of therefrigerator of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective viewshowing a wine shelf and a duct suitable for the refrigerator of FIGS.2-3.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the refrigerator 200 according to anembodiment of the disclosure may include a duct (e.g., a multi-duct)220, a plurality of shelves 230, and one or more wine shelves 240.

The duct 220 is fixed to a rear face of a refrigerating chamber 211 in amain body 210 of the refrigerator 200, and discharges the cool air intothe refrigerating chamber 211. The duct 220 may include a plurality offirst cool air discharge ports 221 and a plurality of second cool airdischarge ports 222. Specifically, the duct 220 may have a length in thevertical direction and may include a plurality of first cool airdischarge ports 221 and a plurality of second cool air discharge ports222 spaced in the vertical direction and/or along the length of theduct.

The first cool air discharge port(s) 221 may be on the front face of theduct 220 and may extend in the front direction (i.e., towards the door).Specifically, the first cool air discharge port(s) 221 may be proximateor adjacent to a side edge and/or a side face of the duct 220.Accordingly, the cold air flowing in the duct 220 may be discharged tothe front of the duct 220. In this embodiment, the duct 220 is in theback of the refrigerating chamber 211 as an example, but the positionand shape of the duct 220 are not limited thereto. For example, the duct220 may be in the freezing chamber 212, or may have a shape and/or alength oriented horizontally (i.e., in the left-right direction). In oneembodiment, the refrigerator 200 may include two first cool airdischarge ports 221. However, the number of the first cool air dischargeports 221 is not limited thereto. As an example, three or more firstcool air discharge ports 221 may be provided on the front face of theduct 220.

The second cool air discharge port(s) 222 may be on the front face orside face of the duct 220. In this case, the second cool air dischargeport(s) 222 may be at a position not covered by one of the shelves 230.Thus, the cool air may be discharged from the duct 220 into therefrigerating chamber 211.

A plurality of shelves 230 may be in the refrigerating chamber 211.Specifically, the shelves 230 may be connected to an inside face of therefrigerating chamber 211, optionally at one or more predeterminedintervals. Further, the refrigerating chamber 211 may include one ormore wine shelves 240. The wine shelf (shelves) 240 may be coupled toand/or communicate with the duct 220, and one or more of the wineshelves 240 may be between two of the plurality of shelves 230.Alternatively, one or more of the wine shelves 240 may be above theuppermost one of the shelves 230 or below the lowermost one of theshelves 230. In this case, wine or a beverage may be stored on one ormore of the wine shelves 240.

Specifically, each wine shelf 240 may include a body 241 having a coolair flow path on the inside thereof, a cool air inlet 242 on the rearface of the body 241, and one or more third cool air discharge ports 243on one side or end of the body 241. In this case, the wine shelf 240 mayhave a smaller size than the shelf or shelves 230, and when one side orend of the wine shelf 240 is coupled to the inside face (e.g., a sidewall) of the refrigerating chamber 211, the other (e.g., opposite) sideor end of the wine shelf 240 may not be in contact with another insideface of the refrigerating chamber 211. As an example, one or more of theshelves 230 may have a size corresponding to a width of the inside ofthe refrigerating chamber 211, and the wine shelf 240 may have a size(e.g., a width and/or length) smaller than the correspondingdimension(s) (i.e., the width and/or length) of the interior of therefrigerating chamber 211.

The body 241 defines a space in which the wine and/or beverage may beplaced and/or held, and may include or define a flow path through whichthe cool air flows on the inside thereof. Specifically, the body 241 mayhave a predetermined thickness and may serve as a flow path for the coolair. In this case, the body 241 may have a downward convex shape so thatthe wine and the beverage may be held safely. Further, the side or endof the body 241 opposite from the third cool air discharge port(s) 243may be coupled to an inside face of the refrigerating chamber 211. As anexample, the body 241 may be screwed, clipped or riveted to the insideface of the refrigerating chamber 211 and may be removable from therefrigerating chamber 211.

The cool air inlet 242 may be on one side of the body 241. In this case,the cool air inlet 242 may have a shape corresponding to the first coolair discharge port 221 of the duct 220. Specifically, the cool air inlet241 may communicate with the first cool air discharge port 221. Thus,the cool air discharged from the duct 220 through the first cool airdischarge port 211 may be introduced into the body 241 of the wine shelf240 in the refrigerating chamber 221 through the cool air inlet 242. Inthis embodiment, the duct 220 and the wine shelf 240 fit together as anexample, but the combination of the duct 220 and the wine shelf 240 isnot limited thereto. For example, the duct 220 and the wine shelf 240may be coupled through a separate coupling member.

One or more third cool air discharge ports 243 may be on one side faceof the body 241. The third cool air discharge port(s) 243 may dischargethe cool air inside the body 241. Specifically, the third cool airdischarge port(s) 243 may discharge the cool air from the flow pathinside the body 241 to the refrigerating chamber 211. Thus, the cool airsupplied from the duct 220 to the inner part of the body 241 may bedischarged from the body 241 through the third cool air discharge ports243. That is, the inner space of the body 241 of the wine shelf 240 mayinclude or define a flow path for the cool air. In the embodiment shownin FIG. 4, three third cool air discharge ports 243 are on one side faceof the body 241 as an example. However, the number and position of thethird cool air discharge ports 243 are not limited thereto. As anexample, four or more third cool air discharge ports 243 may be providedon the side face of the body 241. Alternatively, one or more of thethird cool air discharge port(s) 243 may be on a lower surface (e.g.,the convex surface) of the body 241.

Hereinafter, the operation and effect of the refrigerator 200 having theabove-described structure will be described.

First, the duct 220 may be fixed on or to the rear face of therefrigerating chamber 211, and may receive cool air from an evaporator217. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the cool air from the evaporator217 is supplied to the duct 220 along a flow path behind one or more ofthe refrigerating and freezing chambers 211 and 212 as an example.However, according to one or more other embodiments, the refrigerator200 may be configured such that cool air from the freezing chamber 212may be supplied to the duct 220. Further, the duct 220 may include aplurality of first cool air discharge ports 221 extending towards thefront of the refrigerator 200 (e.g., into the refrigerating chamber211). In this case, the plurality of first cool air discharge ports 221may be spaced by a predetermined interval along the vertical directionof the duct 220.

The first cool air discharge port(s) 221 may be coupled to the wineshelf or shelves 240. Specifically, the wine shelves 240 may include abody 241 having an empty inner part, one or more cool air inlets 242 inthe body 241 and one or more third cool air discharge ports 243. In thiscase, one or more wine shelves 240 may be between adjacent ones of theplurality of shelves 230.

The body 241 of the wine shelf 240 may have a cool air inlet 242 on therear face and a plurality of third cool air discharge ports 243 on oneside. Specifically, the cool air inlet 242 of the wine shelf 240 may becoupled to and/or communicate with the first cool air discharge port 221of the duct 220. In this case, the cool air inlet 242 may fit with thefirst cool air discharge port 221. Accordingly, the cool air dischargedfrom the duct 220 may be introduced into the body 241 through the coolair inlet 242. Further, the cool air supplied into the body 241 may bedischarged through the plurality of third cool air discharge ports 243on the side face.

As the cool air is discharged from the side face of the wine shelf 240,the cool air may be provided to the food stored on one or more of theshelves 230 below the wine shelf 240.

Further, since the wine shelf 240 includes a flow path for the cool air,it is possible to efficiently supply the cool air to the entire interiorof the refrigerator, thereby shortening the time for supplying the coolair to the inside of the refrigerator.

Further, since the wine shelf 240 is detachable from the refrigeratingchamber 211, the inner space of the refrigerating chamber 211 may beefficiently used.

Further, since the wine shelf 240 includes a flow path for the cool air,the wine seated in the wine shelf 240 may be cooled more quickly and/orefficiently.

The foregoing detailed description illustrates the disclosure as anexample. Further, the foregoing is intended to illustrate and explainembodiments of the disclosure, and the disclosure may be utilized invarious other combinations, modifications and environments. That is, itis possible to be changed or modified within the scope of the concept ofthe disclosure in this specification, the scope of disclosure and theequivalent scope and/or the skill or knowledge of the disclosure. Theembodiments described are intended to illustrate the best mode forcarrying out the technical idea of the disclosure, and variousmodifications may be made to the specific applications and uses of thedisclosure. Therefore, the detailed description is not intended to limitthe disclosure to the disclosed embodiments. Further, the appendedclaims should be construed to include other embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A refrigerator comprising: a main body having oneor more storage spaces; one or more doors, each configured to open andclose at least one of the one or more storage spaces; a plurality ofshelves in the one or more storage spaces; one or more wine shelves inthe one or more storage spaces, configured to hold and/or store wine ora beverage; a cool air supply device configured to supply cool airand/or maintain at least one of the one or more storage spaces at apredetermined temperature; and a duct including a first cool airdischarge port fixed to a rear face of one of the one or more storagespaces to receive the cool air from the cool air supply device anddischarge the cool air, wherein at least one of the one or more wineshelves includes a body having a width smaller than a width of theplurality of shelves, a space configured to hold and/or store the wineor the beverage, a flow path through which the cool air flows, a coolair inlet connected to the first cool air discharge port to introducethe cool air into the flow path, and a second cool air discharge portconfigured to discharge the cool air from the flow path to the one ormore storage spaces.
 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, whereinthe first cool air discharge port is on a front face of the duct.
 3. Therefrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the first cool air dischargeport is proximate or adjacent to an edge and/or a first side face of theduct.
 4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the one or morewine shelves are between adjacent ones of the plurality of shelves,above an uppermost one of the plurality of shelves, or below a lowermostone of the plurality of shelves.
 5. The refrigerator according to claim1, wherein the side face of the body includes a second side face havinga plurality of the second cool air discharge ports, and a third sideface coupled with an inside face of the one or more storage spaces. 6.The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of shelveshave a size corresponding to an inside width of at least one of the oneor more storage spaces, and the one or more wine shelves have a sizesmaller than the inside width of the storage space.
 7. The refrigeratoraccording to claim 1, wherein the first cool air discharge port extendstowards a front of the refrigerator and fits into the cool air inlet. 8.The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the duct has a lengthoriented in a vertical direction, and the plurality of first cool airdischarge ports are along the duct at a predetermined interval in thevertical direction.
 9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, whereinthe body has a predetermined thickness and a convex shape.
 10. Therefrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the one or more wine shelvesare detachable.
 11. A set of shelves for a refrigerator, configured tobe coupled to a duct, comprising: a plurality of storage shelves havinga size corresponding to a width of an inside of a storage space in therefrigerator; and one or more wine shelves configured to becommunicatively coupled to the duct and positioned between adjacent onesof the plurality of storage shelves, above an uppermost one of theplurality of storage shelves, or below a lowermost one of the pluralityof storage shelves, wherein at least one of the one or more wine shelvesincludes a flow path configured to discharge cool air from the duct tothe storage space.
 12. The set of shelves according to claim 11, whereineach of the one or more wine shelves includes: a body configured to holdthe wine or beverage and having a convex shape; a cool air inlet on arear face of the body, configured to supply the cool air into the body;and a cool air discharge port on one side face of the body, configuredto discharge the cool air from the body.
 13. The set of shelvesaccording to claim 12, wherein the body has an inner part containing aflow path for the cool air.
 14. The set of shelves according to claim12, wherein the body has a second side face configured to be coupledwith an inside face of the storage space.
 15. The set of shelvesaccording to claim 14, wherein the body includes a plurality of the coolair discharge ports on the first side face of the body.
 16. The set ofshelves according to claim 12, wherein the cool air discharge port isconfigured to supply the cool air to food stored on one of the pluralityof storage shelves.
 17. The set of shelves according to claim 12,wherein the cool air inlet has dimensions configured to fit with adischarge port of the duct.